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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 372, 30 April 1866, Page 1

Queensland Sugar. —Hie Brisbane Courier has received a sample of sugar, manufactured by Mr Robert Muir, from “ribbon” canes, grown on Mr E. H. Price’s plantation, Nerang Creek. It is a good strong description of sugar, bright, and well crystalised, but not sufficiently drained. This may be accounted for, we presume, by the very primitive manner in which it was prepared. As a sample, however, of what this description of canes will yield, it possesses no little degree of interest. It is not jet known which are the best sorts of caao for this climate, and this can only be decided by experience, so that every contribution is valuable. Mr Muir states that it exceeds what he expected ia quality arid yield. This-gentleman, who is the overseer of Mr Price’s plantation, has had considerable experience on sugar plantations in the Southern States-of America; and he considers from what he has seen here that sugar-growing may be as successfully prosecuted in this colony as in either the West Indies or America. He thinks that the “ small Otaheitan ” and “ Ribbon ” canes are the most suitable varieties for our climate. The former description comes to maturity Tory early, and on this account is principally grown in the State of Louisiana, where a much more severe winter than our own prevails. It is expected there will be about fifty acres under crop for sugar next year.

The ‘New Zealander’ on Dismemberment. —That paper says—“ There are signs abroad which tend to show that in the coining session of the General Assembly at Wellington, another attempt will be made to cut a huge slice from the Eastern flank of this Province, and therewith to enlarge the Province of Hawke’s Bay. A* bold move in this direction was made last session ; but the pear was not then ripe. Now, however, in the disjointed state of parlies, when the fate of possible Minis tries may depend upon the votes even.of so small a Province as Hawke’s Bay, it behoves Auckland men to be watchful, for when the "log” begins to roll impetuously, it may be too late to arrest it. It will be well, therefore, if a general understanding be at once arrived at amongst the representatives of tho people in this Province, that Auckland objects to, and will resist all attempts at dismemberment. The only ground upon which such a project could be decently sustained, would be that Auckland would decline, or neglect, to colonise, or put to profitable use, any land confiscated, or to be confiscated, on the East Coast, and especially in the Poverty Bay district, which might be handed over for that purpose. We venture to assert, that, under such circumstances, the local Government of Auckland would display no indisposition to undertake the work of settling the newly acquired territory in Poverty Bay; and that it would do that work much more effectively, and with greater advantage to the Colony generally, than the local Government of Hawke’s Bay. Colonization and settlement are words which have, and always have had, very .different significations in Auckland and at Napier; and that portion of the national estate the Waste Lands of the Crown, which has been confided in trust and for the national benefit to the Provincial Governments of Auckland aid Napier respectively, has been regarded wi< h different views, and dealt with in a totally diffekmt spirit by these Governments. This is a large question, and one which needs to be discussed and fully understood. It will, perhaps, be found to be the pivot upon which the question of dismemberment can be made to return, and we propose to recur to it upon mu *ariy occasion.